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Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

Ok just read the article and I have a couple of thoughts...his name is spelled Deion not Dione lol and he only caught like 10 passes for 145 yards the last season he played. But he is replacing stone hands Ian Mahi...I mean DHB and his experience against the pats can't hurt. Maybe he will come up huge for us?

Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

Except I don't think this move amounts to much at all even from a strategic standpoint.

Yeah, I don't either. He's been away from the Pats for awhile so I doubt there's much to glean from him in that regard. Really he's just a body with a reputation of being a heady player that I imagine they figured could pick up some base sets pretty quick, needed a DHB replacement so why not get one with a good rep and a lot of experience on such short notice.

If we're counting on him to make any kind of important plays against the Pats we'll probably be in trouble.

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Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

Just read the Colts/Pats thread and saw this on there, but I will leave this up in case anyone wants to discuss further. I'm thinking Branch could be very important on third down conversions just because he knows where to be, especially if they are going to be doubling T.Y. Maybe a sort of security blanket like Reggie was for Luck.

Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

I know we worked him out a few weeks ago.

Would we have even signed him if DHB didn't get hurt? I mean yeah we need a replacement for DHB but we've basically just taken him out of the offense. He is only in on running plays now for his blocking. Any other time he's playing special teams and doing quite well at that.

Maybe he can make some catches for us, but like what everyone has said, we can't expect too much out of him. He'll have been on the squad for less than a week come game day.

Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

I normally wouldn't mind bringing in a guy who knows the opponent well except that this particular opponent has one of the greatest coaches of all time. I doubt that there is anything that he can tell us that will help. He was there when they had two great TE's and had them both on the field for a majority of their offensive snaps. Due to lacking both TE's their offensive is very different. I think you can argue that these last few weeks Legattette Blount has been their focal point. If the Colts D gets too confident that their anticipating the Pats tendencies, Tom Brady will spin them in circles.

Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

I don't think it's the offense as much as the defense. He's gone up against McCourty, Talib, Arrington, Dennard, etc. in practice for at least a year, so he knows them pretty well. Second, I think there is some gamesmanship by bringing in a former notable from an opponent. Even though I don't believe he'll actually get any offensive snaps, I would love for him to catch a game-winning TD, or better a long catch to set up a Vinatieri game-winning FG.

Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

He and Belichek have already got a deal under the table to fumble if the Pats need it.... or for less money to drop a pass... Big money if he somehow allows himself to be tackled in the Colts' own endzone or fumbles the ball leading to points for the Pats. Also, pays well if he catches a pass and then allows a Pat to rip it away from him for possession.

Nuntius was right for a while. I was wrong for a while. But ultimately I was right and Frank Vogel has been let go.

------

"A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, thatís teamwork."

Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

No, that was WR Troy Brown in 2004 when 3 DBs went on IR, and then WR Julian Edelman in 2011.

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Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

Don't know if he'll be able to contribute on the field but the thought of Branch completing a key catch to set up a game winning Adam V field goal might just make every Pats fan's head explode at once.

Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

There's a new WR wearing #84 at the Patriots practice today (and it's not Randy Moss).

Maybe it's Deion's long lost twin brother, Cleion Branch, who was selling insurance for State Farm, and thus has more tread on the tires.

The poster "pacertom" since this forum began (and before!). I changed my name here to "Slick Pinkham" in honor of the imaginary player That Bobby "Slick" Leonard picked late in the 1971 ABA draft (true story!).
I'm (maybe) back after being repetedly banned, merely for supporting a different NFL team than do certain forum moderators.

Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

yes, and 84 for the Vikings.

Ben Watson wore 84 when Moss was acquired by trade in 2007 and Watson would not sell the number.

The poster "pacertom" since this forum began (and before!). I changed my name here to "Slick Pinkham" in honor of the imaginary player That Bobby "Slick" Leonard picked late in the 1971 ABA draft (true story!).
I'm (maybe) back after being repetedly banned, merely for supporting a different NFL team than do certain forum moderators.

Re: Colts sign ex-patriot Dione Branch!

#84 is identified: Reggie Dunn, undrafted WR, from Utah. He ran a 4.24 40-yard dash. Was on and off and on and off the Packers practice squad.

He would be playing the role of Hilton on the scout squad, is my guess.

The poster "pacertom" since this forum began (and before!). I changed my name here to "Slick Pinkham" in honor of the imaginary player That Bobby "Slick" Leonard picked late in the 1971 ABA draft (true story!).
I'm (maybe) back after being repetedly banned, merely for supporting a different NFL team than do certain forum moderators.